Verstappen 'superiority' flattering Red Bull dominance - Marko

Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko believes Max Verstappen's performances are flattering the team's dominance in F1.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit has secured wins in all 12 races so far this season, as well as each of the three Sprint events whilst missing out on only two pole positions.

With the chasing pack continuously changing positions in the race for second best, Red Bull has stretched its Constructors' championship lead to 256 points over Mercedes.

Within that, however, is a 125-point gap between Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez and speaking to Motorsport-Magazin, Marko suggested it was the two-time champion that was the dominant force in the sport and not the RB19.

"It's Verstappen," he insisted. "You have to compare it to Perez.

"If we look at race pace, Checo is among the best five drivers, but his weak point is qualifying."

"The comparisons show that Max is on average about half a second to 0.6secs per lap faster than Checo in the race.

"Perez therefore stresses his tyres more, which was actually his speciality. Because he has to go to the limit like that and make his way through traffic, that advantage is gone."

Ferrari and Mercedes disappointing

Far from suggesting the Red Bull's pace is down to Verstappen alone, Marko added: "Our car is definitely good and we developed it well after last year.

"Surprisingly, our competitors Ferrari and Mercedes are disappointing. They have failed to develop the car through and are still struggling with various problems.

"The RB19 is certainly the most universal and the fastest car of the moment but its superiority - this obvious superiority - that comes from Max Verstappen."